TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Secretary-General Hsu Li-ming expressed concern Wednesday (Jan. 17), over the use of TikTok, describing it as a tough issue the party could "neither ban nor use."
He suggested the party might need to bolster its presence on other new media platforms like YouTube and Instagram as alternatives for more engagement with the public.
Hsu made the comments during the party's first central meeting since the recent presidential and legislative elections on Jan. 13.
Party member Hsu Shu-hua noted the DPP's long-standing lack of engagement with young people and technology in general, and with popular trends onTikTok.
She sees no need for a ban, stating that it wouldn't be effective anyway and adding that such issues should be faced head-on.
Party member Wang Ting-yu suggested treating TikTok as a matter of national security rather than simply deciding whether or not to ban it. He recommended looking at how Western countries have dealt with the platform.
Legislator Hsu Chih-chieh echoed these sentiments, pointing out that democratic nations, including the U.S. and the UK, have imposed certain restrictions on TikTok.
He urged Taiwan to take more precautions, suggesting the government look to the policies of other democratic countries to better protect itself from informational warfare.
Secretary-General Hsu Li-ming further emphasized the importance of dialogue and cooperation with civil society groups and the effective use of online platforms such as Instagram, short videos, and TikTok. He urged these actions be taken now, not just during elections.